Chapter 26

MACKINNON TREASURY - SEPTEMBER 11, 1385

T he great basalt island of Staffa jutted out of the steady rolling tide. Pillars of narrow rock shot upward to the sky and became more numerous as the bìrlinn coasted to the tender point. Something in Birdy's eyes seemed frightened.

Sea navigated the narrow opening and tossed the rope to Beithir who waited along with Lightning, Thunder, and Rock on the rocky shelf of shore.

Leaning forward, Lion tucked a stray curl behind Birdy's ear. "Is it the open sea?"

Eyes wide, she nodded. Yes.

"I'm right here. We've been training for this. If you go in the water, I'll go in after you." She didn't argue with him, only nodded again. He'd never seen her like this.

Beithir signed to him. No talking. Their guard is just around the corner. The tide dropped and rose, and they bobbed in the surf. Pointing to the water and the mouth of the cave, Beithir added, How long do we have?

Lion studied the tide crashing against the low rocks. The swell is down right now, seas are easy. Perhaps a few hours. My father always said it could change quickly .

Beithir nodded and turned to Birdy . Are you ready?

A cloud rolled away from the moon and lit the cast to her face and the dullness in her eyes. Birdy?

She shot up and leaned forward over the side of the bìrlinn, vomiting into the surf.

Sea shook his head. Maybe we should call it off? If she's shaking or sick, she can't fly.

Beithir jumped aboard the bìrlinn and leaned over the side catching her attention. She rose, her fingers to the back of her mouth. He brushed a hand over her sweaty forehead. Do we need to call this off? Is it sea sickness?

She shook her head. It isn't sea sickness. It's…

Beithir raised his eyebrows. What?

A battle waged across her face and her shoulders slumped. Fear. I'm afraid. This place is terrifying.

Sea looked at Lion, his face full of disbelief, and he knew Sea's thoughts—Birdy didn't become afraid.

Yet Lion knew the truth. She got afraid, but he'd seen her rise above it time and time again, except over this dark water.

He waved to Beithir and got his attention. It's the dark, open water. The tide.

Beithir turned back to her. I don't like this place either, but I'm here to get a mission done. You have a choice to make. Face your fear and complete the mission, or we forget this whole thing. Tell me now. Can you do this?

She rose to her feet. Let's go.

Shedding her thick plaid, leather trews, and shoes, she shivered in the breeze in her sleeveless tunic and the hose she'd cut at the thigh. They would need all the bare skin they could stand in the early harvest chill in order to grip and move. Lion tossed his tunic into the bottom of the bìrlinn, tied his hair up on his head, and looped the rope over his neck. He stepped out onto the rocks beside Beithir and put his hand out for her. Placing her trembling arms around his shoulders, he lifted her onto the rock.

Beithir nodded. Let's go.

Together, the three of them scrambled over the columns that pitched along the rock shelf, like slick stepping stones at different heights. Some columns of rock were as large as several feet, others barely wide enough for his foot. Some rose flat, others angled in, still others sloped away. His hand went behind him and hers slid into his palm.

As they neared the end of the shelf, the rocks broke apart and a narrow strip of water led into the sea cave. Two guards sat at the mouth of the cave, their backs to them. Lion pushed her against the stone wall.

Stay here.

She shook her head. No.

Yes. Stay. Here.

Narrowing his eyebrow at her, she rolled her eyes. He released his hand from her arm and she stayed.

Beithir placed a hand on Birdy's shoulder and nodded to him. Drawing his dagger, Lion observed the guards sitting in silence for a few moments. Both slender, both muscular. No visible weapons.

Stone by stone he crept along the narrow shelf, then poked his dagger into the back of the first guard. "Don't move."

The guard's eyes went wide, and the second turned, drawing a sword from among the rocks and swinging it above his head. The sword had been hidden, and Lion had only a moment to register that he was about to die.

A flash of blond sprang over the uneven rocks and collided with the second guard, knocking him into the water. A gauntleted hand went up and released the sword just as the guard's armor saturated with water, dragging him under the powerful suction of the ebb. Beside him, Birdy stood in front of a shocked-looking Beithir, her eyes frozen over with ice, chest heaving.

Staring in stunned silence, the first guard turned to Birdy, his gaze flicking down and ogling her bare arms and legs. Reflexively, Lion punched him in the face. "Turn back toward the sea and stop staring."

The man staggered and lost his bascinet but did as he was told.

Pulling rope from around his neck, Léo secured the man's hands and feet, speaking low to the remaining guard. "How many more guards inside?"

The man looked at the patch of water his fellow guard had just disappeared into, and seemed to weigh his answer. "Two. "

Lion wrapped the rope around the man's mouth and cut it. Beithir hefted the man over his gigantic shoulders. "Do you want to wait for the others?"

He shook his head. "No, Birdy and I can handle it."

Continuing their climb, Lion and Birdy made their way into the arched mouth of the cave. Like a cathedral made of natural rock, the sound of the waves pitched and echoed off the walls in a haunted melody. Moonlight snuffed out a few yards in and they continued to move, feeling with hands and feet toward the dim glow of firelight within, sticking beside the wall.

Behind him, Lion could only hear the sound of Birdy's breath coming in short bursts, and the unseen tide whooshing in and rushing away. A wave bucked and hit them with a fresh blast of spray and he heard her gasp with chill.

When they reached the peak of the impenetrable darkness, a pinprick of light began to build from a fire at the back of the cave. And there, set high into the stone wall, a mouth, four feet wide, settled among slick, sea moss covered rock. The mouth of stone had been the MacKinnon clan's treasury for centuries, accessible only during high tide for ten minutes at a time. Not long enough to steal the bounty. Until today.

Lion slipped his dagger between his teeth and scrambled over the remaining rock, careful to stick to dark shadow, Birdy close behind.

A guard turned toward the back of the cave and adjusted his boot. Not wasting time, Lion slipped the rope around the man's mouth and drug him into the shadows, bringing the pommel of his dagger down on the back of his head. The man went slack. Tying him and cutting the rope, he propped him against a rock and made his way down to the other guard who was staring off into the mesmeric waves below.

Creeping along the wall, he scoped the distance to the man. He would need to run toward him and expose himself to the man's peripheral vision. He took a deep breath. Praying, he sprang forward.

The guard's eyes widened and he swung out. Lion ducked, grabbing the man around the chest and swinging him around the uneven rock trying to unsteady his feet. The man pushed back, and Lion brought his knee into the man's groin. Rocking forward, the man threw his elbow back trying to connect with Lion's jaw. Catching his arm, Lion twisted it, then grabbed the guard's other hand. From the shadows, Birdy sprang forward, helping him push the man to the rock floor and standing in-between the guard's shoulder blades while he roped the guard's arms and feet. When he'd been gagged, Birdy put her fingers in her mouth and whistled down the length of the echoing cave.

At the mouth of the cave three lanterns appeared and slowly bobbed toward them. Léo picked the second guard up and dumped him beside his comrade.

Lightning rowed in first. "This tide is wicked, we're going to need to move fast."

Rock grunted from the boat behind him. "This is why I'm no' an Islander. Your lot is mad storin' treasure in a sea cave… liable tae get sucked oot tae sea."

Birdy's eyes widened as if she'd just heard her fate prophesied, and Lion put a comforting hand to her goosebumped shoulder.

Thunder rowed in last. "Throw those two in my boat, I'll take them back to the bìrlinn."

Léo hefted the unconscious man and rolled him into the bottom of the small boat, his weight pitching it up. The boat bounced against the narrow sides of the sea path that cut through the cave.

Thunder held his arms against the rock. "Careful, I don't want to scuttle."

The second guard squirmed and wrestled and Léo struggled to hold him steady. "Do you want to drown, you fool?" The man's bloodshot eyes blinked hard, and he stilled. "That's more like it."

With the guards settled, Thunder wasted no time, rowing out of the cave against the rising tide.

Beithir walked the platform of rock, arms shooting out as his feet connected with green sea moss, sending his huge frame sliding. He tried to catch himself against the slick wall and shot to his rear end, skittering down the uneven stone and coming to a stop just before the opening to the sea.

Sprawled on the floor, Beithir looked at Birdy and Lion. "I don't like this."

Lion couldn't dwell on that now. He turned back to Birdy. "Are you ready?"

She nodded. Angling his back close to the wall and planting his feet on two uneven stones, he bent his leg and she climbed up his thigh, across his palm, and onto his shoulders. He walked her close to the mouth of the treasury, navigating the slick, uneven rock with his bare feet. Finding a steady footing, he put his hands close to his shoulders and she stepped onto his palms.

"Now?"

She curled her toes.

Pushing against the weight of her body, he lifted her, arms shaking but keeping her steady. His eyes scanned the sharp rocks descending from the ceiling, assessing the danger and guiding her around it.

Beithir's voice sounded behind him. "Careful. There's a low-hanging rock."

"I see it."

Facing the cave wall, she reached for the opening and she tried to lift herself into the mouth, but couldn't quite make it. Arms slipping against the slimy moss, she wobbled and nearly fell. Behind him, Beithir gasped and skated forward to spot her.

Lion steadied her. "Do we need to throw?"

She curled her toes. He stepped away from the rock and bobbed his knees, giving her bounce. Hands at her hips, he caught her and guided her back down.

Beithir wiped a hand over his face."Och, that makes me nervous."

Birdy shook her arms out and warmed her limbs by the dying fire. I feel safer up there than down here.

Beithir chuckled. "Aye, you have Lion to break your fall." She blushed.

Undeniable pride swelled in his chest. He made her feel safe.

It's just a bit out of my reach. I'm certain if we throw I can make it.

Thunder rowed back down into the cave. "Sea's spotted patrols to the east and the swell is rising. We need to make this short."

Léo wiped his hands on his trews and motioned her over. "I've got you."

She nodded and got into position with her back to him .

Bending his knees and spreading his feet between the uneven rock to form a strong base, he held his hands to the curve of her hips, his thumbs finding the dimples at the low of her back. "One, two, three."

Keeping his elbows in and tight, he launched upward with as much force as he could give her. She popped off his wrists and shot over his head, straight toward the mouth of the treasury. Gaining several feet from her last attempt, she grasped the dry top of the treasury mouth in a clean catch. Arm muscles rippling with strength, she pulled herself up inside the opening.

Lightning released a loud breath. "She's go' it."

Beithir called up to her and it bounced off the cavernous walls. "What do you see?"

No sound issued from the mouth of the ledge.

"Birdy?"

Her head popped out of the opening, followed by her hands. Eighteen bags of the Wolf's gold and silver. It's got his mark. Ten bags of missing MacLean gold marked for the tithe house. Two bags of MacKinnon gold.

From the boat, Rock hooted. "Stupid fools."

Lion shook his head. "That confirms how the Wolf persuaded Niall to become an ally. No wonder he's angry with Niall about the lack of return on his investment."

A wave shot up from the narrow mouth of the sea path.

Beithir looked up at Birdy, his face edgy. "We don't have time to get into that. Let's get moving."

Birdy disappeared inside the cave and reappeared with her back to the opening, her legs hooked around a stone. Slow and steady, she rolled backward out of the mouth of the cave, holding onto a bag of gold as large as Gabriel.

Heart thumping, Léo moved beneath her. "Beithir, you grab the bags, I'll guard her."

Bag-by-bag, she repeated the movements as if there was no limit to her strength, extending down, and curling back up for another one. In fifteen minutes, and with much effort navigating the slick rocks, ten heavy bags of gold and silver lay in each row boat. The tide had begun to slosh over the ledge where they stood. The patrol would soon travel to the mouth of the cave to pick up guards who wouldn't be there.

Lion called up to her. "Birdy, let's go."

Hands came out of the cave opening. One minute.

"What is it?"

She reappeared decked in jewels, dozens of strands of pearls, rings, bracelets, and several circlets. There's more jewels up here.

Beithir raised his voice. "No time. Let's go. NOW."

Once more, she lay back out of the opening then dropped. Lion's hands met hers and she balanced on his palms, the weight of the jewelry making her arms shake. Slowly she brought one foot up to regain her balance and then the other, and gasped.

A trickle of blood smeared against the rock hanging from the ceiling and ran from her calf. She wobbled, but he held her steady. Slowly she folded her legs down and brought her feet through the space between their joined hands. He adjusted his grip, grabbing one firm thigh, and then the other, and lowered her to the rock floor.

Water squelched the fire and darkness blanketed them. Birdy grabbed his hand and he tightened his hold on her. "I've got you, I won't let go."

Beithir's deep voice pitched around the darkened cave. "Let's go, let's go…"

Pulling her toward Thunder's boat, the frigid tide sloshed over their feet. Lion helped her in, then jumped in beside Thunder.

Without waiting for further instruction, they began rowing in short strokes against the tide, unable to fully use the oars in the narrow gap of sea. Sweat broke out over his back, and his arms shook with the effort. After two minutes of careful navigation the boat made its way out onto the now tossing sea.

Maneuvering his oar, they began to pull hard against the current. Rock pulled away, his massive arms and the lighter weight of his boat making short work of rowing as he passed them. Lightning and Beithir's boat followed, as the two men hauled for the bìrlinn.

By the time Thunder, Birdy and he reached the bìrlinn, Rock and Lightning's boats had been emptied. Lion passed Birdy into Sea's waiting hands. Lugging the bags of gold and silver into the bìrlinn, he wondered how they hadn't sunk into the Hebridean Sea under their weight.

With the last of the bags loaded, he and Thunder hopped aboard the bìrlinn, stepping over their three prisoners while Beithir drove his axe over and over into the hull of the rowboats, sinking them to the sea floor.

Iain's voice took command of the vessel. "Oars!"

All five men, plus Birdy, took an oar, rowing out of the enclave and toward the open sea. Finding the wind, Sea loosed the sail, running across the waves in the direction of Skye. They released their oars, all panting with effort.

Birdy shed the circlets, necklaces, bracelets, and rings into a bag of silver, wiping sweat from her brow. Lion felt a twinge of sadness as she pulled trews over the rippling muscles of her legs. He frowned deeply and winked at her, but she did not admonish him or call him toad or donkey as she sometimes did when he flirted with her.

Wrapping the plaid around her shoulders, she hugged herself and put her head between her legs, her blond curls whipping in the swift wind. Moonlight hit the side of her face, and he could see the sickness returning to her features. Donning his half-wet tunic from the bottom of the boat, he climbed over the benches and settled next to her, placing an arm around her.

Beithir sat across from them. "The two of you were incredible. The King will be impressed, especially with you, Birdy." She raised a hand in thanks and then brought it back to her forehead. Lion rubbed her back. Another legend to add to the Bird's mythic feats.

Beithir eyed her. "What's the matter?"

Lion rubbed the back of her neck. "She's sick again."

Sea piped up from the stern. "If I stay along the shore, she doesnae ge' afeared, bu' as soon as we go into open water she gets the boak. Figured that oot when I sailed her home from Lochbuie last year. I don't have a choice but to cross open water if we need to make it by dawn."

Her hand left her forehead and went to her leg. It was then Lion noticed a stain trickling across the deck. He dropped to his knees and lifted her leg, rolling her trews up. Along her calf, a barbed slash poured blood. The cut was much worse than he'd realized in the cave. "She's hurt."

Swaying forward and sideways, she collided with his ribs, nearly collapsing on the deck.

Beithir crouched beside him and examined the wound. "She needs stitching. Lay her facedown along the bench and elevate her legs."

Settling her on her belly, Lion swept curls from her face, sitting beside the bench on the deck. Rock handed a dry box to Beithir. Thunder took a seat and elevated her legs across his lap, staunching the blood with her plaid.

Doing his best to distract her, Léo ran a finger over the slope of her nose and across her high cheekbones. "Your first battle wound. Aren't you proud?"

Eyes desperate, face green, her shaking hands formed words beneath the bench. Sick. I'm sick.

Lion got a finger around a bucket and had it under her face just as she lost what little she had left in her stomach. Sweeping her soft, springy curls into his hands, he held them away from her face and rubbed her back until she finished, then tossed the contents of the bucket over the side. Placing it back beneath her face, he smoothed her hair across her head as Beithir poured fresh water over the wound and threaded the needle.

Fingers shaking, she talked to Lion. I'm scared. Don't let me go in the water.

He chuckled . "You're not going into the water. We'd have to sink. And Sea would never let anything happen to this boat. It's new."

A small smile brightened her pale face. Will it hurt?

"A bit, but Beithir's good at stitching." He showed her the shiny scar along his knuckles. "After Pontvallain." He lifted his tunic and showed her the swipe along his ribs. "Chevauchée in Besan?on." He grinned and paid her a cheeky wink. "I've got another wound he stitched, but I can't show you that one."

Beithir pinched her flesh together. "Aye, that was the worst one for me. Arrow right in the bahookie."

Thunder burst out laughing. "Och, man."

Dangling over the bucket, she gripped his leg and wretched. Lion held her hair back again and tried to keep the conversation moving and her distracted. "I wasn't running away, before you say anything. It was during archery practice. Young gendarme , arrogant bas—" He remembered Birdy, and the Lord, and stopped himself. Thunder smirked as he continued. "Arrogant fellow messing about with a crossbow and dropped it. Rebounded off a wall and sank right into my… miche ."

As she finished retching, Beithir touched her leg. "Ready?"

Yes.

The needle went into her flesh and she tensed and bucked. Lion lowered his arm across her shoulders and kept her still. Tears trickled out of her eyes as Beithir worked small stitches along her flesh by lantern light.

Heart pinching, Lion eased his fingers along her neck and talked beside her ear. "You were incredible, mon petit oiselle. So strong and brave. We couldn't have done this without you. You're right. You can do this all on your own—but you pay me a great honor by allowing me to work with you, to protect you."

Her shaking hands formed unsteady signs. I was wrong. I need you, Lion. Don't leave me. Don't let me fall.

"I needed you too. You protected me and saved my life." He pressed a kiss to her temple.

Beithir nodded. "Aye, she moved faster than I did. Thank God she was there." He tied off the stitches, clipped the string, and poured clean water over the wound, then waved air over it. When it dried, he opened a pot of honey and smoothed it over her stitches, then made a poultice of comfrey, binding it to her leg. "Don't roll your trews down, let air get to it tomorrow. It will heal faster."

Thank you, Beithir.

Rock and Thunder moved to the stern of the boat with Sea, and Lion pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. He leaned back against the side of the boat, his heart finding relief with her in his arms.

Lightning passed a rough blanket to him. "Well done, Birdy. We couldnae have done it without you. "

She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Léo's middle and mouthed, Thank you, Lightning.

The bìrlinn rocked over the sea, cutting past Treshnish, as he tucked the blanket tight around her. After a few minutes her breath became shallow, and she slept.

Beithir crept back over the benches and knelt beside him, speaking in French. "Be careful with her, my friend. I fear she loves you very much. This is no girlish infatuation."

Lion tightened his arms around her. "I fear I love her more. I haven't felt this way since Théa. But she doesn't want me, Hec. I've hurt her too many times."

Beithir shook his head. "When I fell in love with Cara, I made so many mistakes. You remember how I hurt her the night we confronted Tavish?"

He nodded. "Oui."

Beithir's eyes softened. "When we think all is lost, God is working in the darkness. You deserve every happiness, my friend. And I do hope it is with Birdy because she loves you selflessly." He paused.

"But?"

"But you need to get through the next few weeks."

A soft yellow curl blew across her cheek and Lion tucked it behind her ear. "Part of me wants to take her to France and go in peace. With Birdy and Gabriel, I need nothing else."

"She's worked too hard for you to give up now. She'd never allow it. God has something great for you. Trust him."

Clearly, for the first time in weeks, he heard the voice within his heart. I'm here, Léo. I'm still here.